11 September 1997 Edition
Irish group seeks meeting
Irish language group Forbairt Feirste chief Philip Campbell has called for an immediate meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Campbell wants to raise the British Government's denial of funding to the group for a programme where Irish speakers could communicate with statutory agencies as Gaeilge.
Campbell criticised the manner in which the application was refused: ``the Minister's department waited nine months before replying to our application.'' He revealed that a brief letter arrived the day before a scheduled meeting with British minister Tony Worthington stating their request for £20,000 had been rejected. Ironically the project has already secured £20,000 from the EU peace fund.
Campbell queried how this latest decision reflected on promises of parity of esteem, and called on the British Government to look positively at such funding applications.
Campbell criticised the manner in which the application was refused: ``the Minister's department waited nine months before replying to our application.'' He revealed that a brief letter arrived the day before a scheduled meeting with British minister Tony Worthington stating their request for £20,000 had been rejected. Ironically the project has already secured £20,000 from the EU peace fund.
Campbell queried how this latest decision reflected on promises of parity of esteem, and called on the British Government to look positively at such funding applications.